Family slain

Published: April 21, 2004 8:00PM

TRIADELPHIA, W.Va. (AP) Authorities are looking at robbery as a possible motive in the shooting deaths of a man, his wife, and the wifes son.
The bodies of Bernie Buzz Conniff Jr., 54; Deborah Conniff, 50; and Jonathan Michael Noon, 22; were found about 2:30 p.m. Monday in the basement of the familys home in this town near Wheeling.
They were discovered by a relative who was checking on Deborah Conniff when she failed to show up for an appointment, said Pat Butler, Ohio County sheriffs chief deputy.
He declined comment on whether police had a suspect.
Bernie Conniff operated a business called Valley Coin, which was filled with coin-operated machines such as claw machines, in which people try to maneuver a crane to pick up stuffed animals.
He may have also had a few video lottery machines. ... Thats why you have to look at robbery as a possible motive, Butler said.
Butler declined to release any specifics about the position of the bodies, where the three were shot or what condition the home was left in.
Noon lived part time with the couple. He also had a residence in Adena, Ohio.
Noons pickup truck was missing but was later recovered in a parking area just outside Wheeling, Butler said. Its not clear if the truck had been taken from the home or if Noon had left it there earlier.
The bodies will be sent to the state medical examiner for autopsies. The truck will be sent to the State Police crime lab for forensic analysis.